Chapter 71 Cal
Cal
‘Ihave a girlfriend,’ I announce to the room at large. ‘And she loves me.’ I pause. ‘And I love her, obviously.’
Cue stunned silences all around me.
Except, that is, for Norm, who opens his jaws to emit the most enormous yawn before settling his head back on the rug.
I have no idea how I’ve kept this to myself all week. I wanted to wait until Aida had chatted to her boys and pitched my PR strategy to the Paradise team.
Suffice to say, the boys were an easier win than Lizzy and Mara, but the latter are coming around.
They’ve reluctantly agreed to record various voiceover options for the ending and to withhold judgement until we can assess how the public responds to Aida and me.
The Paradise trailer was hot as fuck, but that’s not enough for anyone to go on.
They need to see us in action.
Which is why I’m doing the school run with Aida later and will also be an enthusiastic audience member on the Gordon Kay show when she makes her appearance on his sofa tonight.
Back to the stunned silences.
Gen recovers first. What a shocker. ‘Wow. Well, I love this for you,’ she says with her usual cat-like grin. ‘Honestly. For both of you. I’m so happy for you two.’
‘Thanks, babe,’ I tell her.
Rafe and Zach are nodding like proud fathers.
‘Didn’t think we’d see the day, mate,’ Zach says.
‘I mean… I would never have put you two together in a million years, but like Gen says, I love it. She’s…
’ He trails off and holds his hands up, like Aida defies description, which is a sentiment I can get behind.
‘I know,’ I say. ‘It’s crazy. She’s like some kind of brainiac megastar who’s also sex on legs. She’s so fucking accomplished, too. The woman makes me feel simultaneously exhausted and so proud it’s ridiculous.’
‘She’s a proper grownup,’ Maddy says sagely. ‘She’s like Zach, but famous.’
‘And a lot sexier,’ I point out.
‘We need to meet her again so we can see you two together properly,’ Rafe says. ‘Last time at the club you were both really fucking awkward.’
‘No we weren’t,’ I lie, because that evening was pretty uncomfortable. I didn’t know how to act around Aida, and Maddy shot her mouth off, which didn’t help. ‘But yeah, you do. You’ll see her at your engagement drinks.’
Rafe rolls his eyes. ‘Like I’ll be able to enjoy catching up with my mates then. I’ll be too busy trying to play nicely for Belle’s dad and his cronies so he doesn’t disown her and ruin her life because she’s too good a person to cut him off like she should.’
I grimace. ‘And we don’t mention the A-word, right?’
‘No. Alchemy doesn’t exist.’ He sighs. ‘I dislike the lying, but there is no point in rubbing salt in the wound by telling Belle’s parents that the guy who corrupted and stole their darling daughter also runs a sex club. It would finish off their relationship once and for all.’
‘I totally agree,’ Maddy says. She’s known Belle since their school days, so, aside from Rafe, she’s probably the best qualified of us all to weigh in.
‘Belle’s come so far since she started dating you, Rafe.
Her parents know meddling in your relationship won’t get them anywhere.
They’re just about holding down a civilised relationship now, so for God’s sake, let’s try to keep it that way. ’
‘Agreed,’ Rafe says. ‘Still think Dex should swing by when he’s in town. I’d like to get him on board with me and Belle properly.’
‘Dex is super hot,’ Maddy muses, earning her a scowl from Zach. ‘All Belle’s school friends were in love with him. And he’s kind of fucked up, which is always a turn on.’
‘Only if you’re dysfunctional,’ Zach growls.
‘Alas, women always go for fucked-up guys,’ she sighs, but she’s too nice to make a meaningful face at her boyfriend, because he was the epitome of fucked up when they got it on.
I narrow my eyes in amused suspicion. ‘Did you and Dex ever…’
‘God, no,’ she says. ‘Not for lack of trying, though. He’s six years older than us, so he had no time for Belle’s silly little friends. He moved to New York when we were around sixteen, I think. More’s the pity.’
‘And then you went for someone properly old,’ I point out, and we all laugh. We may be the same age as Rafe, but that’s not the point.
‘Changing the subject,’ Zach says through gritted teeth, ‘what’s up next for you and your very hot new girlfriend?’
Rafe replies before I can. ‘If you’d told me six months ago that Cal had fallen for one of the smartest people on television, I’d have laughed in your face.’
‘Same, mate,’ Zach says, though he’s grinning now. ‘But what’s even more insane is that she’s fallen for our Cal. Right?’
They’re right. Obviously. It hits me like a tonne of bricks over and over.
I make Aida Russell happy.
It’s fucking insane.
I’d say I’m the least cerebral of the lot of us. I’m a pretty straightforward guy, and I know how to have a laugh. What you see is what you get with me.
Who knew that would be what she wanted?
‘Knock it off,’ Gen says sharply. ‘Yeah, they’re opposites, but you could say the same for all of you. And probably me and Anton, too. So be happy for them.’
‘Sorry,’ they murmur in unison.
‘Obviously, we’re thrilled for you, mate,’ Zach says, looking a little stricken. ‘She’s one hell of a lucky woman.’
‘Thanks,’ I say.
‘Yeah,’ Rafe chimes in. ‘We didn’t mean—we love you, bro. She has fucking good taste, if you ask me.’
I know they’re happy for me—ribbing each other relentlessly is what we do. And I get it—it’s really fun to watch your friends fall head over heels for someone you would never in a million years have matched them with.
I guess that’s one of the beautiful mysteries of love.
Another, it seems, is thinking you’re the luckiest bastard in the world.
Being totally bewildered that you get to be with this unique, captivating person and—and this is the really weird bit—knowing that, by some crazy magic, they feel exactly the same about you.
What’s up with that?
It blows my mind, actually.
So when Zach tells me Aida’s a lucky woman, I find myself hoping that he’s not just saying that as my loyal friend. I want nothing more than to make her feel like the happiest woman in the world every day. And if that also makes her feel lucky, I’ll take it.
‘Anyway,’ I clear my throat, because I don’t want Rafe, Zach and I to start hugging it out and braiding each other’s hair any more than they do. ‘We’re about to go on a bit of a publicity spree—give people plenty of reasons to get behind us as a couple—‘
‘I can help!’ Maddy says, bouncing a little on the sofa to make her point. ‘We can definitely do some of the heavy lifting via the Alchemy socials. Ooh, I feel a few cutesy reels and TikToks coming on.’
‘Honestly, I’d love that,’ I tell her. ‘Basically, Creatrix is giving Aida a hard time about any messaging that so much as hints at a monogamous happy ever after. They want this documentary to really pack some punches, so we need to show everyone that being with me is punchy as fuck.’
‘Amen to that,’ Rafe drawls, and everyone laughs.
‘Why do I suspect you’re far more comfortable with that than Aida is?’ Gen asks.
‘Because you know what an attention whore he is,’ Zach points out. ‘Remember that fashion show at uni when he went out on the catwalk in just a pair of too-small briefs, all oiled up with a fucking tyre on each arm?’
‘What, a car tyre?’ Maddy asks, as the rest of us fall about laughing.
‘Yep,’ Gen says drily. ‘I can never unsee it, unfortunately.’
‘I could have had any girl in the entire fucking place that night,’ I protest. ‘They were gagging for it. My Hot Mechanic routine was like catnip to every girl there.’
It happens to be true.
‘Dear God,’ Gen says.
‘From Hot Mechanic to Hot Armed Robber in the Paradise trailer,’ Maddy muses. ‘It all makes so much more sense now.’
‘Fifteen years on and he’s still working the baby oil,’ Zach says, and I guffaw along with the rest of them, because the guy has a point.